Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-07-07
BIRTHPLACE or LINCOLN.
BE- Request.

spent last Sunday and Monday in
the vicinity OF Lincoln City and Gen
tryvile, Spencer county, looking up
facts and relics Of the illustrious
Abraham Lincoln who in his early
days lived with his father on the hill
about forty rods east Of the railroad
at Lincoln City station. It was not
my intention to repeat any Of the &C.
cepted history, narrative traditions or
romance that has been handed down
to US by scores Of historians who
never viewed the ground where Lin
coin lived, who had never interviewed
persons who lived there at that time
and personally acquainted with the
Lincoln family. 1t was my intention
to get, if possible, the actual facts
Invested of all romance and fiction.
With this purpose in view | visited
Joseph Gentry, whose father located
in 1878 and purchased the lands
where Lincoln City now stands, and
adjoining the land occupied by the
father of Abraham Lincoln. Mr..
Gentry remembers but little rela-
tive to the Lincoln family, as he
was but a child at that time.
The elder Lincoln was carpenter by
profession, with but few, rude tools,
and but little employment at his
trade. Ofthe characteristics Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, Mr.. Gentry says that he
was of the shlftless, indolent sort"
was not the industrious, hard working
boy pictured in history spent most Of
his time hunting ard fishing, but was
fond of reading, and eagerly read all
books he could find Mr. Gentry says
that he never saw Lincoln's mother
and does not remember having heard
any illusions to her, consequently she
must have died at an earlier date than
1878, as narrated in history.
next visited Mr.. Romine, who is
considerably older than Mr.. Gentry.
Mr.. Romine's father located near the
Ohio river ten miles above Rockport,
in 1915 and operated ferry. Mr..
Romine says Abraham Lincoln fire.
Ju"ntly came down to the river and
made his home with them, spending
his time hunting and fishing, but was
Tassionately fond of reading, and
would borrow books at every oppor-
tunity. He says young Lincoln, at
this time, did not show any traits of
character or intelligence which would
attract attention, except Incidence
and lack of business qualities. The
elder Lincoln made frequent trips
down the river on flat boats as a
lahorer, and from what he could learn,
this employment was his principal
means OF subsistence. In 1929 Mr..
Eomines father located upon lands
where the Gentrvville junction of the
Air Line roads ia now seen. This
was about mile from the Lincoln
cabin. At this time the elder Lin.
coin had remarked, but was very
poor, lived in a rude log cabin of one
room, had but one bed. two or three
chairs, an iron teakettle, baking kettle,
skillet and perhaps dozen dishes.
lie had not made much progress in
the way Of farming; had cleared up"
only few acres, Just enough for a
garden and "a patel" of corn.
Il was the opinion of Mr.. Romine,
that Abe Lincoln did scarcely any
thing in the way of farming, that he
never split rail in his lite, and that
the stories Of his labors in clearing
away the primeval forest were pure
fiction.
About the year 1880 the Lincolns
removed TO Illinois, and as Mr.. Ro.
mine SAYS, abandoned their and in
Indiana, which he thinks, was not
raid for, or only the first payment
WAS made when the land was entered
ty Mr.. Lincoln.
According TO history the house in
which Lincoln lived in his youth was
removed bodily to Illinois and erected
there as a memorial of our illustrious
President. Mr.. Romine saws the
original, cabin was occupied by hun.
tiers, sluatters and emigrants success.
lively tor several years and was finally
torn down and the logs rotted on the
ground. This cabin was about lOxl6
feet IN size, built Of round logs, with
chunks and mud Plastering between:
the roof WAS Of split slaves held
down by poles peSged down to the
ratters. The door was of split slaves
pinned together. The fireplace was a
pile OF stones laid in oval form. and
merely an opening in the roof for the
smoke 10 escape The hearth was
made by laying large flat stones
around. There was but one window
IN the cabin. la Summer the win
dow was open all the time in winter